Union urges police to disobey ‘illegal orders’
A police union yesterday said it would sue the officer who ordered the riot squad to use tear gas against construction workers during a central Athens protest on Tuesday. The Union of Attica Police Officers also threatened to seek state compensation on behalf of the officers who were injured during the ensuing clashes outside the Labor Ministry, saying the security measures for the protest had been badly planned. Meanwhile, the national union of police officers has called on policemen to «refuse to carry out illegal and anti-social orders,» and accused the government of «using the police to solve social problems.» Tuesday’s clashes followed a bid by some 350 laborers protesting against the increasing number of work site accidents to storm the ministry. Public Order Ministry Giorgos Floridis said the union announcements were «not serious.»
